In 1999, FAO initiated a major exercise to evaluate the impact
of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) on agricultural trade and food security in
developing countries. Fourteen country case studies were commissioned, and an
overview paper synthesizing these experiences and the lessons to be learned was
prepared.[1] FAO has now updated this exercise,
drawing on a wider set of countries and more recent data. Sixteen country case
studies were commissioned by FAO at the beginning of 2002 to review national
experiences. In some cases, the studies revisited countries included in the 1999
sample, but the opportunity was also taken to widen the sample by including
additional countries. Although the synthesis chapter draws on all 23 of the case
studies to date, only the 16 recent studies are included in this
volume.[2] These studies attempt to provide
answers to four questions concerning the impact of the AoA on developing
countries:

Have the AoA
commitments led to any changes in domestic agricultural policy in developing
countries?

Did the AoA commitments have
any impact on trade flows (imports and exports) of developing
countries?

Has implementing the AoA
commitments had any impact on food security?

What are the priorities and
main concerns of the case study countries in the negotiations?

The preparation of this volume has benefited from the
contribution of many. In addition to the authors of the country studies, whose
names are mentioned in the corresponding papers, particular thanks go to
Professor Alan Matthews, Department of Economics, Trinity College, Dublin, who
assisted FAO in the coordination of comments and revised drafts of the studies,
as well as in the preparation of the synthesis chapter in this volume.

These studies were prepared under the supervision of Harmon C.
Thomas, Chief, Commodity Policy and Projections Service (ESCP) of the
Commodities and Trade Division of FAO. Others involved in the project were
Nasredin Elamin and Ramesh Sharma. Special thanks to Suzanne Giometti, who
provided administrative assistance, to Hansdeep Khaira, who provided statistical
assistance, and to Olwen Gotts, who arranged for the publication of this
volume.

[1] FAO. 2000. Agriculture,
trade and food security: issues and options in the WTO negotiations from the
perspective of developing countries, Vol. II: Country case studies.
Rome.[2] The other earlier studies
are available in FAO. 2000. ibid.